Quick-release coupling for highpressure fluid lines



March 20, 1951 A. 'r. SCHEIWER QUICK RELEASE COUPLING FOR HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID LINES Filed Oct. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 20, 1951 A. T. SCHEIWER 2,545,796

QUICK RELEASE COUPLING FOR HIGH-PRESSURE FLUID LINES Filed Oct. 8, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r m. i 132 #6 INVENTOR fl/e r 75 4.9, f

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 20, 1951 OFFICE QUICK-RELEASE COUPLING FOR HIGH- PRESSURE FLUID LINES Albert '1. Scheiwer, Erie, Pa. Application October 8, i947, Serial No. 778,597

4 Claims. (Cl. 284--19) This invention relates generally to couplings for hose members and the like and. it relates more particularly to hose couplings for high pressure lines having check valves therein.

It has heretofore been a practical impossibility to connect a hose coupling together under high pressure. This is particularly desirable where the coupling member is disposed on the lower portion of a large tank having a high head. No couplings have heretofore been provided whereby means are provided in the coupling members to set up counteracting forces to permit connection thereof under high pressure.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide novel male and female coupling members in a coupling for connecting and disconnecting high pressure lines which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, easy to install, and efficient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a male and afemale coupling member with check valves and auxiliary devices therein to set up counteracting forces in the couplings when connecting and disconnecting-them.

' Another object of my inventionis. to provide a coupling member having check valves in the male and female coupling members vented to atmosphere.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View of my novel coupling member in locked position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View with one-half thereof broken away for better illustration, of the female coupling member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View with one side thereof broken away, of the male member shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of another embodiment of my novel coupling member with the fluid entering the side of the female coupling member. I

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a male coupling member I comprising a cup-shaped sleeve 2 having an internally threaded portion 3, a connecting portion 4 witha peripheral groove 5 and an inwardly directed. end flange 6. A wall member 1 having a venting aperture 8 has an annular shaped projection 9 with an outer threaded portion I!) for threadably engaging the threaded portion 3 of the sleeve 2 and an inner threaded portion [2 for threadably engaging the threaded end I3 of the guiding sleeve M1. The guiding sleeve l4 has an enlarged head I5 and a washer groove 16 for receiving a U- shaped washer H. A cylindrically shaped check valve I8 is telescopically disposed in the sleeve i6 and it has an outwardly extending flange portion IQand a grooved portion 28 for receiving, a sealing washer 2! which sealingly engages the flanged end 6 of the connecting portion s when the male member iis disconnected as shown in Fig. 3. The wall member 1 has longitudinally extending apertures 22 for the flow of fluid through the male coupling'member. Wall member 1 also has a rearwardly projecting threaded portion 23 for threadably engaging threading capmember 24 having internally threaded portion 25 for threadably engaging a hose or any other connection. Spring member ill urges the washer 2! on check valve 58 in sealing engagement with the end flange 6. Projection II on check valve l8 seals the end of connecting portion 4.

The female member 30 comprises a sleeve. 3! having a threaded portion 32 for threadably engaging the cap member 33, an inner shoulder 3d, inner washer groove 35 for receiving annular washers 35, ball retaining apertures 3! for holding ball members 38, a threaded portion 39 for threadably engaging a stop member 4-9 and an.

annular grooved portion 42 forming a shoulder 43. A locking sleeve 44- having a camming portion 45 is disposed over the groove portion 42 of the sleeve 31, the camming portion 45 being urged against. the ball members 38 by a spring 56. A sleeve 41 having washer grooves 48 for washers 49 is telescopically disposed in the sleeve 3| and has a flanged portion 50 for engaging theshoulder 34 in the sleeve 3|. A stationary cylindrical member 52 is disposed axially of the sleeve 3| and has laterally extending apertures 53 for the passage of fluid through the coupling members I and 30 when they are connected together as shown in Fig. 1. One end of the member 52 is flanged. at 55 which is secured between the end of the sleeve 3| and the cap member 33. The flanged portion 54 also has an aperture 55 for venting to atmosphere the space 55 behind the sleeve 47. A spring member 5| urges the sleeve 4? to a position shown in Fig. 2 which is a closed position. The cylindrical member 52 also has a threaded portion 51 for threadable engagement to a hose coupling or the like. The engaging end 58 of the cylindrical member 52 has a peripheralgroove 59 for receiving the washer 60 to sealingly engage the projecting end I! of the check valve l8 in the male member I.

When it is desired to make a connection between the male and female coupling members I and 30, the connecting portion 4 of the male member I is disposed in the sleeve 3| whereby the sleeve 41 is forced against the force of the spring 5I thereby uncovering the laterally extending apertures 53 in the member 52. At the same time the nose portion 58 of the member 52 engages the nose portion II of the check valve I3 in the male member I to move the check valve I8 to the rear out of sealing engagement with the end flange 6. It will be evident that fluid may then pass through the aperture 22 and through the male member I to the laterally extending apertures 53 in the member 52 and outwardly therethrough to a hose or the like to which the female member 30 is connected. It will be evident that the movable members are all vented to the atmosphere thereby preventing any pressure being set up behind the check valve I3 and sleeve 41. When the connecting portion 4 of the male member I is in a position shown in Fig. 1, the ball members 38 are forced into locking engagement with the peripheral groove 5 on the connecting portion 4 by the cam portion 45 of the locking sleeve 44.

When it is desired to disconnect the male and female members I and 30, it is only necessary to draw back the locking sleeve 44 wherein the ball members 38 move out of engagement with the peripheral groove 5 of the connecting portion 4 of the male member I and it may then be withdrawn from the female member 33. Upon withdrawal of the connecting portion a of the male member I, the sleeve 47 is moved forwardly by the spring 5| to a position shown in Fig. 2. The sleeve 4! holds the balls 33 outwardly in the path Of the cam portion 45 of the locking sleeve 44 so as to permit the connecting portion 4 of the male member I to be connected to the female member 30 without manual intervention except the insertion of the connecting portion 4 of the male member I into the female member 30. All parts of my coupling are so made that where there is a surface permitting the force to be directed in one direction, there is an opposite surface provided to counteract this force such as the two surfaces 62 and -63 on the enlarged portion of the guiding member I4 in the male member I.

In Fig. 4, I show a coupling similar to the coupling shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except that the female member has a laterally extending inlet or outlet for fluid. Referring now to Fig. 4, I show a female member IIII having a sleeve I02 with an L -shaped groove I03, ball retaining apertures I04 for receiving balls I05, a threaded portion I06 for receiving a threaded stop member [01, internal peripheral grooves I08 for receiving washers I09, an internal shoulder III], and a threaded portion II2 for threadably engaging a threaded cap member II3. A locking sleeve H4 having a camming portion II5 is disposed over the groove I03 and is urged against the stop member III? by a spring II6. An inner sleeve I I8 having an outwardly flanged portion H9 and grooves I for receiving washers I2I is telescopically disposed in the sleeve I92 and the flanged portion N5 of the sleeve IIB is urged against the shoulder III} of the sleeve I02 by a spring I22. An end member I24 having a peripheral flange I25 is secured to the end of the sleeve I02 by cap member H3. The end member I24 has air vents I26 extending therethrough and also a central aperture I2'I for receiving the reduced end I28 of a cylindrical member I29 disposed in the inner sleeve H8. The cylindrical member I29 has a bore I30 with spaced laterally extending apertures I3I and I32. The apertures I3I are aligned with a laterally extending outlet I33 in the side of the sleeve I02. A peripheral groove I34 is provided in the sleeve II8 to permit free flow of fluid to or from the port I33. The sleeve H8 has an aperture I35 which is adapted to be aligned with the port I33 and the aperture I3I when the female member IOI is connected to the male member I as shown in Fig. 4.

The male member I40 comprises a sleeve I4I having a connecting portion I42 with a peripheral groove I43 and an internally threaded portion I44 for threadably engaging threaded portion I45 of an end member I46. The end member I 45 has a threaded portion I 4'! for threadable engagement with a threaded adapter I48 to which is secured a pipe I49 or any other suitable coupling. The end member I46 has a longitudinally extending aperture I50 for the flow of fluid through the coupling member I40 and a venting aperture I5I. The end member I46 also has an internally threaded portion I52 for threadably engaging the threaded end I53 of-a guide member I54. The guide member I54 has an internal peripheral groove I55 for receiving a U-shaped washer I56. A spring-urged cylindrical check valve I5? is telescopically disposed in the guiding member I54 and it has a flanged portion I53, a grooved portion I59 for receiving a washer I50 and an extension IBI for closing the end I62 of the connecting portion I42 of the male member I40 against dust and dirt.

The cylindrical member I29 in the female member IIII has an internally threaded portion I63 for receiving a threaded plug I64 and an annular washer IE5 is disposed on the end thereof.

In operation, the connecting portion I42 of the male member I40 is disposed in the female member I as shown in Fig. 4 and is locked by the ball members I05 and the locking sleeve H4. The connecting portion I42 of the male member I40 pushes the sleeve I I8 a sufficient distance to cause the aperture I35 therein to register with the apertures I 3| and port I33 to permit flow of fluid. The apertures I32 are uncovered by the connecting portion I42 of the male member I40 thereby permitting the flow of fluid through the male member I40 and through the aperture I50 to the pipe I49.

The flange portion I9 and the sealing washer 2| on the check valve I8 permit counter-acting forces on both sides thereof thereby permitting connection of the coupling members under high pressure with a minimum of manual force.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel coupling having check valves in the male and female members thereof which permits easy connection and the free flow of fluid therethrough after connection thereof with a minimum of effort against a high pressure in the connecting lines. I also provide a coupling which is closed against dust and dirt when disconnected and which permits automatic connection without moving the locking sleeve after it is once connected together.

Various changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claims.

Vifhat I claim is:

1. A coupling comprising a male coupling member having a connecting portion with a peripheral groove and an inwardly directed flange,

a guided check valve adapted to sealingly engage the inwardly directed flange on the connecting portion of said male member; and a female coupling member comprising a cylindrical shell having cam retaining apertures, cam members in said apertures for engaging the peripheral groove on the connecting portion of said male member, a spring-urged locking sleeve for locking said cam members into locking engagement with the peripheral groove on the connecting portion of said male member to connect said male and female coupling members together, a bored cylindrical member having laterally extending apertures and a spring-urged sleeve sealingly engaging said outer shell and said inner cylindrical member adapted to cover the laterally extending apertures in said cylindrical member, and hold said cam members outwardly in the path of said locking sleeve when said female coupling member is disconnected, the connecting portion of said male member being adapt-ed to move said movable sleeve in said female member longitudinally to uncover the laterally extending apertures in said cylindrical member whereby fluid flows between said coupling members.

2. A coupling as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guided check valve in said malercoupling member and said spring-urged sleeve in said fe- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,493,306 Wilkinson May 6, 1924 2,054,772 Light et al Sept. 15, 1936 2,112,146 Di Giovanni Mar. 22, 1938 r 2,254,997 Fisher Sept. 2, 1941 2,311,239 Main et al Feb. 16, 1943 2,393,679 Gunderson Jan. 29, 1946 2,428,637 Scheiwer Oct. 7, 1947 2,439,275 Spotz Apr. 6, 1948 

